Blogswara V5 released!

Here comes that moment of the year again where we all get to listen to the songs of Blogswara! Blogswara’s version 5 has been released today at 12 AM IST in our website – http://www.blogswara.in. There are 14 songs in total for this album which includes songs in 4 langauges – Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada – and instrumental music. Go to our website, listen to the songs and let the song teams know your feedback. And also if you like the songs, please do spread the word through your blogs and emails. By the way, I have sung two songs – Azhaithathu Yaaro (with Sindhuja) and Etho Oru Pookkaalam. Listen to both and let me know your comments. 🙂

I would like to thank each and everyone from the song teams who have worked hard to make this happen. You guys keep the spirit of Blogswara going on! Also thanks to our moderators panel who have been instrumental in the songs selection process. I want to specially thank Nandu Mahadevan for taking time to master all the songs through his busy work schedules and Jyothis E for taking care of the hosting of our songs and for promptly responding at the crucial times. Thank you both!! And to Connexionz and Don who have been helping us with the website hosting from the very beginning.

For those who don’t know about Blogswara yet, here is an introduction given below:

Blogswara (http://www.blogswara.in) is an internet music community which acts as a common platform for musicians (a majority of whom are amateurs) to showcase their talent before the world by producing original music and share it over the internet. It is also a free-music movement where visitors/listeners can listen and download the mp3 files free of cost. So far we have released 4 internet albums and Blogswara Version 5 is scheduled to be released by the year end. The songs are in multiple languages and so far we have had songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. People from abroad have also shown interest in Blogswara. There is an American musician, who plays Sitar, will be working for this year’s album.

Blogswara proves that people, wherever they are or whatever languages they speak, can come together for a cause – here the cause being music. And the digital age has made it easy for them to meet each other and collaborate. Many of the individual musicians who have appeared in Blogswara have not seen each other in the real world but they are still able to collaborate. Human spirit is what drives Blogswara. Like the Blogswara tagline (United in Music) says here people unite in music.

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogswara

Blogswara Version 5 is coming up!

It is time for another version of Blogswara! Yes, it is Blogswara’s fifth album!! We have posted the song teasers in our website, so hop over there to listen to the 20 seconds long song previews.

We have 14 songs this year and in four languages – Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada (the first Kannada song of Blogswara) – and also some great instrumental music pieces. All by some of the people who have participated in Blogswara’s previous versions and many new faces.

So watch out for 12th December 2008, which is only one week away from now, for the grand release of Blogswara Version 5. And do spread the word around!

Visit http://www.blogswara.in

Blogswara’s Wiki page
Blogswara website

Songs preview:


Kangal Irandaal (cover)

Kangal Irandaal from Subramanyapuram

Kangal Irandaal from Subramanyapuram is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in the recent times. I never get tired listening to this song over and over again because there is some kind of innocence and beauty about this song which I cannot really put in to words. And the singers have brought out very good emotions in the song. The karaoke track had Deepa Mirium’s vocals in it and I added just the male vocals part. Another duet version of this is coming up soon. (Thanks to Rosh for the track)

Song: Kangal Irandaal
Music: James Vasanthan
Original singers: Belly Raj, Deepa Mirium
Sung by: Jo (with the vocal track of Deepa Mirium)

Download the MP3 of this song


Kangal Irandaal (cover) | Music Codes

(Image courtesy: India Glitz)

Quantum Cello

I recently got introduced to the podcasts of WNYC’s Radio Lab by my colleague/friend Nikhil and got hooked to a couple of episodes. Those of you who have been listening to NPR podcasts might have listened to this program already. There is this one episode where Radio Lab’s Jad Abumrad (BTW, this guy has got a good voice that it alone will hook you up to the episode) talking with Zoë Keating, a Cellist who uses live electronic sampling and repetition in order to layer the sound of her cello, creating rhythmically dense musical structures. So the end result is an effect of a full piece orchestra using a single Cello. This is a perfect example of how technology can help creative artists. Check out the interview or download the episode.

(Image courtesy: kk+, Flickr)

PS: Nikhil also has a post on his favorite podcasts. Check it out if you would like to get introduced to some good podcasts.

Jaaneman Jaaneman (cover)

It has been a long time since I have sung a song with Vidyu, who is an amazing singer and one of the very few people whom I met through Internet in the initial days of music blogging. Our first original duet, Mella Mella – which was done for Blogswara, still remains at the top of all Blogswara albums (BTW, did I tell you that Blogswara’s version 5 is coming up soon? More details will be followed in this blog in the coming days). Here is our new cover song.

Song: Jaaneman Jaaneman
Music: Salil Chowdhary
Original singers: Yesudas, Asha Bhosle
Cover by: Jo & Vidyu

Download this song’s MP3 file here. To download all my cover songs, click here.


Jaaneman Jaaneman (cover) | Upload Music

Manodharmam

Not many of us knew that composer Sarath is also an amazing singer and a Karnatik musician until he displayed his talent through Idea Star Singer. Now check out this video where he sings with P Unnikrishnan, another great singer.

(Thanks to Rosh for the link)

Dinesh Ghate speaks

Those of you who have been frequently visiting this blog would have read my post on Dinesh Ghate, the man who is on a mission to honor the musicians ignored in the film music industry of India. Dinesh runs a magazine that celebrates the musicians who worked in the popular songs whom we never knew about. I had a chance to have an email interview with Dinesh (thanks to Pradeep for his help with this) and here it is.

Q] What is the idea behind Swar Aalaap? What made you take this initiative to introduce those unsung heroes of the popular music to the public?

I am a musician right from the childhood. I always listen to the good old songs and apart from the singers, I have been thinking about the music part that has created the magic mood of a song. So when I became a musician (playing Octopad) I wanted to give credit to the legendary artistes who were instrumental in the songs. Also with the help of Swar Aalap, the musicians come in contact with each other through out the country, because music is a universal thing.

Q] How did you go about collecting the names of those musicians who were not even mentioned in the original credits?

As I’m regularly doing music shows, everybody knows about Swar Aalap and that has made it easy for me. Now a days senior musicians also give good response and information. And I am always busy with searching for original musicians.

Q] How is the response from the film music industry? Do you think this would make them rethink about giving proper credits to the solo instrumentalists?

The response has been very good from across the country as well as abroad, but not from music industry here.

Continue reading Dinesh Ghate speaks